Maria Catherine B. Otero
Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc., Philippines
Title: Trends in Assessing Antimicrobial Activity of Plant Extracts in the Philippines
Biography
Biography: Maria Catherine B. Otero
Abstract
agents from natural products continues to be an important field in the face of multi-drug resistance and re-emerging infections. Many studies in the Philippines have reported plant products that have antimicrobial potential. However, a huge gap in the natural products-based antimicrobial research in the Philippines remains in terms of studying antimicrobial mechanisms of action. This scoping study aimed to document the antimicrobial assessment methodologies employed by natural products researchers in the Philippines. Methodology and Theoretical Orientation: Published scientific articles were searched in databases like Google Scholar and HERDIN using the keywords antimicrobial+plants+ Philippines, antibacterial+plants+Philippines, antifungal+plants+ Philippines. Outputs of research laboratories in HEIs in Mindanao that perform natural products research were also given special attention. Findings: Initial results show that Disk Diffusion Assays are routinely used to screen for antimicrobials from crude extracts. Very few papers report using Disk Diffusion Assay guided by TLC bioautography. MIC determination by broth macrodilution is common. MIC-MBC determination was also reported. No studies on mechanisms of action (e.g. using flow cytofluorometry, effects on MDT) were found. Conclusion and Significance: The nature of published antimicrobials research from natural products in the Philippines is limited to early-stage establishment of antimicrobial potential. Studies that elucidate the mechanisms of action of these antimicrobials must be undertaken, with appropriate infrastructure and funding support, to complete the development of antimicrobial products.
Recent publications (minimum 5)
1. Otero, MCB and Tupas, GD (2018). Phytochelatins and heavy metal tolerance in plants. In C. Egbuna (Ed.), Phytochemistry Vol 3: Marine, Industrial, and Advances. USA: Apple Academic Press.
2. Otero, MCB (2017). Detection of Chikungunya Virus Infection in Monkeys from the Davao Region (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
3. Murao, LAE, Alviola, IV, PA, Otero, MCB, Gilles, PG, Ladera, YSL, Lagat, FT, and Opondo, NB. (2017, July). Identification of risk factors for rotavirus circulation in pigs from Philippine backyard farms. Paper presented at the International Union of Microbiological Societies Congresses, Singapore.
4. Otero, MCB, Sy, AK, Tandoc, III, AO, Puentespina, Jr., RP, and Sarol, LDC. (2017, July). Sylvatic Chikungunya in Philippine macaques (Macaca fascicularis) from the Davao region. Poster presented at the International Union of Microbiological Societies Congresses. Singapore: IUMS Congresses 2017. IUMS2017-2682.
Otero, MCB and Puentespina, Jr., RP, Sy, AK, Tandoc, III, AO, and Sarol, LDC. (2017, May). Capture strategies for captive and wild Philippine macaques. Paper presented at the 29th PALAS Annual Scientific Conference. Pasig City, Philippines